Buying tips Tag

December 15, 2025

How To Stretch Your Options, Not Your Budget

From our friends at the kcm blog One of the biggest homebuying advantages you can give yourself today is surprisingly simple: a flexible wish list. Think of it like this. Your wish list and your budget are the guardrails of your search. And when your budget needs to hold firm, there’s another lever you can pull. That’s seeing if you truly need all of your desired features. Because the truth is, a small compromise could be the difference between feeling stuck and getting the keys to your next home. The data shows more buyers are using that strategy to offset affordability hurdles in today’s market. A recent study from Cotality found most buyers (70%) ended up compromising on one...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

December 4, 2025

The 3 Housing Market Questions Coming Up at Every Gathering This Season

From our friends at the kcm blog Whether it’s at a family gathering, your company party, or catching up with friends over the holidays, the housing market always finds its way into the conversation. Here are the top three questions on a lot of people’s minds this season, and straightforward answers to help you feel more confident about the market. 1. “Will I even be able to find a home if I want to move?” Yes, more than you could a year or two ago. The number of homes for sale has been rising over the past few years. According to data from Realtor.com, there have been more than one million homes on the market for six...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

December 1, 2025

How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now

From our friends at the kcm blog Want to know how to find the best deal possible in today’s housing market? Here’s the secret. Focus on homes that have been sitting on the market for a while. Because when a listing lingers, sellers tend to get more realistic – and, more willing to negotiate. And that’s where the savviest buyers are finding homes other buyers overlook. The Opportunity: 1 in 5 Homes Has Had a Price Cut This Year According to Realtor.com, about 1 in every 5 listings (20.2%) have dropped their asking price at least once. And while so many things in today’s housing market vary by region, that number is consistent throughout the country....

by Jenn Pfeiffer

November 11, 2025

The VA Home Loan Advantage: What Every Veteran Should Know Right Now

From our friends at the kcm blog If you’ve served in the military (or if your spouse has), you have access to one of the most powerful homebuying tools out there. The chance to buy a home without having a down payment. Unfortunately, 70% of Veterans (that’s 7 out of every 10) don’t know about this benefit, according to Veterans United. And that’s a big missed opportunity for those who’ve earned this benefit through service. So, let’s break down what you really need to know about Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans right now. Why VA Home Loans Can Be a Great Option For nearly 80 years, VA loans have made homeownership possible for millions of Veterans and active-duty service...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

November 3, 2025

Thought the Market Passed You By? Think Again.

From our friends at the kcm blog If you stepped back from your home search over the past few years, you’re not alone – and you’re definitely not out of options. In fact, now might be the ideal time to take another look. With more homes to choose from, prices leveling off in many areas, and mortgage rates easing, today’s market is offering something you haven’t had in a while: options. Experts agree, buyers are in a better spot right now than they’ve been in quite a long time. Here’s what they have to say. Affordability Is Finally Improving Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, says affordability is finally starting to...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

October 29, 2025

Why You Don’t Need To Be Afraid of Today’s Mortgage Rates

From our friends at the kcm blog Mortgage rates have been the monster under the bed for a while. Every time they tick up, people flinch and say, “Maybe I’ll wait.” But here’s the twist. Waiting for that perfect 5-point-something rate could end up haunting your wallet later. The Magic Number According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR): “. . . a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of 6% would make the median-priced home affordable for about 5.5 million more households—including 1.6 million renters. If rates were to hit that magic number, it’s likely that about 10%—or 550,000—of those additional households would buy a home over the next 12 or 18 months.” When the market hits that mortgage...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

October 2, 2025

October Mortgage Outlook: Lower Rates Could Deliver a Treat

By Holden Lewis, NerdWallet|SFGATE Mortgage rates are likely to fall in October, even as the government shutdown will make it hard to see where the economy is going and where it's been. Presented with the humility of someone who doesn't always get these predictions right, here's why mortgage rates might fall in October. But first, how else will mortgage shoppers be affected? In past government shutdowns, most mortgages have been available, including those backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA loans) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA loans). There were delays in some cases. USDA loans, backed by the Department of Agriculture, were unavailable. A Fed rate cut is almost a sure...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

September 24, 2025

Why Buyers and Sellers Face Very Different Conditions Today

From our friends at the kcm blog There’s a new divide in housing right now. In some states, buyers are gaining ground. In others, sellers still have the upper hand. It all depends on where you live. Curious what’s happening in your state? These 3 maps show how the split is playing out across the country. In each one: Darker Shades of Blue = Buyer friendly Lighter Shades of Blue = Seller strong Inventory Sets the Stage While the number of homes for sale has improved pretty much across the board, how much growth we’ve seen can look dramatically different based on where you live. And that impacts who has the leverage today. This...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

September 3, 2025

What Mortgage Delinquencies Tell Us About the Future of Foreclosures

From our friends at the kcm blog You may be seeing headlines about how foreclosures are rising. And if that makes you nervous that we’re headed for another crash, here’s what you should know. According to ATTOM, during the housing crash, over nine million people went through some sort of distressed sale (2007-2011). Last year, there were just over 300,000. So, even with the increase lately, we’re talking about numbers that are dramatically lower. But what does the future hold? Is a wave coming? The short answer is, no. Here’s why. Experts in the industry look at mortgage delinquencies (loans that are more than 30 days past due) as an early sign...

by Jenn Pfeiffer